In the incomparable metropolis that is NYC, there are a number of bars catering to lesbians. These include Cubbyhole, Henrietta Hudson and Ginger’s Bar.
Pink Metal boasts high femme aesthetics and a kink-inspired cocktail menu. The venue hosts a wide variety of events including drag king nights and trivia.
Henrietta Hudson is a fun and vibrant place to meet up with friends for cheap drinks and dance parties. The venue is known for its diverse crowd and great music.
Ginger’s Bar
Ginger’s Bar, a neighborhood lesbian bar in Park Slope, shut down when the pandemic hit. But a new business partner, Brendan Donohoe, and a generous landlord helped the bar reopen. Now, the tavern hosts events like queeraoke and dyke drag shows to support Brooklyn’s LGBTQ community.
Located in Park Slope, this laidback neighborhood gay bar has a neighborly vibe thanks to happy hours, pool tables, and an outdoor patio. Enjoy a Dyke beer or spiked hot toddy with friends around a digital jukebox or relax in a cozy window seat.
The bar is one of three remaining lesbian bars in New York City (four, if you count Dyke Beer’s roving bar takeovers and Queen’s Dave’s Lesbian Bar pop-ups). Its owners, Frayne and Donohoe, are continuing to improve Ginger’s by installing better ventilation.
Cubbyhole
There are not a lot of lesbian bars left in the world, but New York City is lucky enough to have three. They all have their own vibes and they are all worth checking out. Ginger’s, Cubbyhole, and Henrietta Hudson are all known for their eclectic decorations and jukeboxes.
They are also known for having great drink specials and for being friendly to newcomers. This makes them a perfect place to meet people and start a new friendship or relationship.
If you are new to the queer scene, it is important to know that everyone there is there for the same reason as you are. They are just looking for a good time and a safe space to be themselves. It is up to all of us to support these spaces.
Henrietta Hudson
With so many lesbian bars closing, Henrietta Hudson stands out as a fun and welcoming space for queer people. Owner Lisa Cannistraci has learned how to run the business “one mistake at a time,” and she’s determined to keep Henrietta Hudson open as long as possible.
She promises a menu that leans toward wine and cocktails, but will remain a “queer human bar built by lesbians.” She also plans to serve vegan dips and charcuterie from Cowgirl, a women-owned food shop.
Whether you’re looking for a place to have drinks with friends or meet a new person, Henrietta Hudson is the perfect spot. The bar is small, and the wait can be long, but it’s worth the experience. It’s one of three remaining lesbian bars in NYC, along with Cubbyhole and Ginger’s Bar.
Misster at The Woods
While it once seemed like lesbian NYC bars were fading out, there’s now a refreshing renaissance taking place. From jukebox-adorned bars to kitschy cocktail dens, there are now plenty of places for women to meet up and dance together.
The funky and cozy Mood Ring in Bushwick is one of the more inclusive queer spaces, while the astrologically-themed bar Happyfun Hideaway attracts an eclectic crowd with its tiki vibes. You can also find some WLW friends at the spacious Williamsburg bar Misster at The Woods, which turns into a dance party every Wednesday night.
The club is a huge multi-tiered dance venue that has class DJs and performers. The crowd is diverse, so you’ll see lots of cute LGBTQ people dancing the night away!
Dave’s Lesbian Bars
When it comes to lesbian bars, New York isn’t exactly lacking. Henrietta Hudson and Cubbyhole both offer intimate spaces perfect for group hangs and drag shows, while Astoria is home to several queer-centric community events like Icon and Albatross.
Despite this, the number of lesbian-specific spaces has dwindled in recent years. Fortunately, new pop-ups are popping up across the country to fill these voids.
Kristin Dausch, who runs Dave’s Lesbian Bars in NYC, describes the idea as “a queer-centric community space by day and lesbian bar by night.” Each event has a theme and different activities, from book swaps to block parties. These events also feature live music and mutual aid.